After spending $17-million in four years to fix, paint, renovate and improve its learning spaces, the University of Windsor still has a “to-do list” of $68-million in repairs that need attention.

Susan Mark, director of facilities services at the University of Windsor, said Wednesday that a survey of jobs that need attention for all schools and campus buildings identified the nearly $70 million wish list.

But, she cautioned, all wishes don’t necessarily come true and the institution will likely have to settle for about a quarter of that amount for work spread over the next four or five years.

“After talking to our front line staff that was the amount we pulled together in just two months,” said Mark. “We don’t expect we’ll get all of it. But we will have to set our priorities for the next round.”

Four years ago the university received $17 million for deferred maintenance from the province’s facilities renewal program, set up to address capital expansion issues at Ontario universities.

Mark said the current round of funding will run out at the end of April and the U of W has already spent almost all of its full allotment.

Among other projects, she said, money was used to upgrade about a dozen classrooms, replace equipment, renovate washrooms, paint, landscape and make accessibility improvements such as adding elevators, lifts and automatic doors to some facilities. She said the remaining $800,000 is already spoken for.

One of the more expensive items, she said, was $4.5 million spent to upgrade the energy conversion centre, which handles heating and cooling.

Mark said the work done so far represents “maybe 25 per cent” of what needs doing — future projects including pipe replacement, roof repairs and window upgrades. “Like other infrastructure projects — like bridges and highways — it could go on forever.”

Such news is not likely to satisfy some of the students interviewed by The Star, who identified maintenance problems that included dirty carpets, broken or missing lab equipment, broken lecture hall seats and desks, dirty and unpainted walls and rooms that seem to be permanently too hot or too cold.

“I feel there are some buildings that don’t seem to get any care compared to others,” said Kathryn Brown, a second-year criminology student. “There are seats in Toldo that are broken. You can’t lean to far back or you’d fall. Odette has cracked seats. And there are no outlets anywhere. When you’re at school for six to eight hours you need to use your laptop.”

Nathan Connel, a university undergrad student representative, said that rooms in Dillon Hall need vacuuming and cleaning. He said he has also heard complaints about “electronics and computer issues.”

“There are mouse droppings in there. Some of the rooms in Erie Hall have broken desks and seats. It’s problematic. For first year classes they’re packed wall-to-wall. There’s no where for students to sit.”

He said that often classrooms and dorms are either “too hot or too cold” and that students often have to attend class in shorts no matter what the season just to remain comfortable.

Emily Eirullo, a second-year English and communications student, said she faces “a lot of desk issues. Half are broken or the seats squeak. Some of the seats have no desks attached to the arms.” She said the buildings that seem to need the most work are Erie and Essex Hall.

Rachel Bondy, a second-year film and communications student, said the Leddy Library is hot, in summer or winter.

“People complain about it on social media,” she said. “But no one takes it really seriously.”

Kim Orr, president of the University of Windsor Student’s Alliance, said her office rarely receives complaints from the student body about infrastructure problems or maintenance issues.

“In my time we’ve had maybe one or two complaints about Leddy being too hot or about tables or chairs in classrooms being broken. It seems to take a while to get them fixed.”

However, she noted, she has seen improvements over the past few years. “The sidewalks don’t flood when it rains anymore.”

Mark said patience is required. She noted that to “totally refurbish” Essex Hall would cost “hundreds of millions of dollars.” And the biology building also faces major issues because of the asbestos used in construction.

“All that adds time and money,” she said.

Essex Hall at the University of Windsor in Windsor, Ont. January 23, 2013. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

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